Spray conveyer



June l0, 19130.

J. o. BAlgEY `1,163,122

` -SPRAY CONVEYER Filed March 8, 1929 gwventoc Patented June 10, 1930UNITED STATES JOSEPH OSWELL BAILEY, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA SPRAY CONVEYERApplication led March 8, 1929. Serial No. 345,539.

Generically this invention relates to conveyers, but it is m-oreespecially directed to the spiral continuous iiight vtype having meansfor eecting thorough treatment of the product being -conveyed withvapors or liquids on the one hand and cooling or drying such product intransit on the other, as the particular necessities may require.

A principal object of this invention is the lo provision of a continuousfiight spiral conveyer having a hollow shaft formed with a plurality ofperforations spirally extending throughout the length of the shaft toeect ready application of vapors, liquids or air i5 to the product whilein process of being conveyed.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of aconveyer having a hollow shaft formed with a spiral line of 2o liquid orair jets communicating with the interior of the shaft and extendingabove the exterior surface thereof through the medium of which theproduct may be additionally agitated and simultaneously ktreated withwater or other liquids, steam or other vapors, or h-ot or cold air, asthe particular exigencies of the occasion may require.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a pluralityof spaced air or water jets extending above the surface of the shaft ina spiral line opposite to the direction of the spiral conveyer blade, soas to effect additional agitation and complete vaporization oraerozation of the product during its course of: conveyance. l

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully describedand claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which likecharacters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalfigures, of which: j Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a section of myimproved spray conveyer showing the spiral line of air vapor or liquidjets extending in a spiral direction opposite that of the conveyerblade; f

Fig. 2 is a modified form of the device illustrated in Fig. 1, showingthe line of jets extending in the same spiral direction as the conveyerblade and in parallelism therewith. i Figure 3 is a transverse sectionthrough the shaft and a nozzle. f

The type of conveyers adapted for moistening or drying the product beingconveyed have proven unsatisfactory and deficient, in that, in suolidevices with which I am familiar many of the perforations in the Vshaftfrequently become clogged by certain moist materials, thereby reducingthe effectiveness of the treatment, and in other instances, the productowing to insutiicient agitation intermediate the conveyer blade sectionsprevents thorough treatment of the product; and it was to overcome suchdeficiencies, and to provide a spray conveyer having a line of spiralliquid vapor or'air ets extending above the surface of the shaftintermediate the conveyor blade in a spiral line spiralling the shaft ina direction opposite to that of the conveyer blade, thereby effecting aloosening of the product adjacent the inletopenings preventino' cloggingof said openings and not only eecting a further agitation of theproduct, but effecting a thorough saturation thereof by the liquid vaporor air in its course of application thereto, that I designed the sprayconveyer forming the subject matter -of this invention. Y

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there isshown a hollow shaft 5 having a continuous flight spiral con- Y veyerblade suitably mounted thereon, and a continuous line of spacedperforations 7 of a corresponding length with that of the conveyer bladeand extendingin a spiral line in a direction opposite to that of theblade 6. In

each perforation is adapted to Ybe threadedly or otherwise suitablymounted a hollow jet 8 Vcommunicating with the interior of the shaft andextending at right angles to the shaft and above the surface thereof,constituting auxiliary agitating means, as well as mediums for theinterjection of water or other liquids, steam or other vapors and hot orcold air to the material being conveyed, depending upon the particularrequirements and as and for purposes hereinafter more fully appearing.

In some instances depending upon the nature of the product beingconveyed and the treatment to which it is being subjected, it issometimes found advantageous to have the spiral line b of jets 7bextending in the same direction as the conveyer blade 6 an equaldistance therefrom throughout the length of theV shaft, such modifiedform being clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing; and while Ihave preferably shown the line of jets 7 as extending in a spiral line,the direction of such line depending upon the particular requirements,it is to be understood that I am not limiting myself to such particulararrangement and that the number and arrangement of jets may be variedwithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

From the above description it would seem to be clear that the line ofprojecting jets during operation of the conveyer effects a furtheragitation and a loosening of the product adjacent such jets therebyeffecting a more thorough and even distribution throughout the mass ofthe elements with which it is being treated than has heretofore beenpossible.

From the above it is apparent that I have designed a spray convcyeradapted to expeditiously and efliciently treat the product bcingconveyed with water, steam, liquids or air depending upon the particularrequirements, one constructed of few parts, simple in design,manufacturable at a reasonable cost and efficient for the purposesintended.

Although in practice I have found that the form of my inventionillustrated in the accompanying drawing and referred to in the abovedescription as the preferred embodiment, is the most el'lcient andpractical; yet realizing the conditions will necessarily vary, I desireto emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction,proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to within the scopeof the appended claim without departing from or sacrificing any of theprinciples of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire protected by LettersPatent is as set forth in the following claim:

A conveyer comprising a shaft hollow throughout its length, a series ofhollow jet members arranged in a spiral line about said shaft,communicating with the interior thereof and constituting lug elements, ahelicoid conveyer blade mounted on said shaft in a spiral directionopposite to that of said lug elements, whereby continuous treatment ofsaid material through said shaft and jet me1nbers and agitation andmixing thereof during its travel throughout the length of the conveyerand across its path of travel is effected.

JOSEPH OSWELL BAILEY.

